BY DIANE A. RHODES
CORRESPONDENT [email protected]
Andrews graduated from San Jacinto High School in 1935 and enrolled at UCLA where she earned her teaching credential in Business Subjects.
She began her teaching career at UCLA and then taught from 1940 to 1944 at Santa Ana High School. She took a brief break to work as an executive secretary during World War II but in1950 she moved back to San Jacinto where she has remained.
Andrews worked at San Jacinto High School from 1949 to 1954 for the same administrator who was her high school principal when she was a student there.
She married apricot grower Victor Penacho in 1950 and had three children: Victor, Virginia and Steve, all of whom graduated from Hemet High School. She lost her husband in 1961 and became a single mom with three children under the age of six. She continued apricot ranching until the mid-1970s and operated a custom apricot drying business from 1980 to 1995. She also authored a book in 2000, “Apri- cot Memories.”
Andrews worked as a fulltime business teacher at Hemet Unified School District from1959 until her retirement in 1980, although she continued to teach part time at Mt. San Jacinto Community College. In spite of being busy with family and career, Andrews was active with many different organizations.
“Beryl and Barbara Adams taught the same subjects at Hemet High as I taught at San Jacinto High,” recalled Stover. “The three of us spent many hours together going to conventions, working on better ways to impart knowledge to reluctant learners and working in CBEA (our professional organization). Beryl is also a personal friend and is an absolutely wonderful person.”
Adams introduced Andrews at the reception and presented her with an award plaque and flowers.
“Barbara (Adams) shared stories of how they carried typewriters and taught the students how to work an old style PBX system with the plug-in cables to connect the calls,” said Andrews’ son, Victor Penacho
He added that his mother used to talk about the changes she saw in the technology during her teaching years, such as going from manual typewriters to electric ones to word processors and eventually computers.
“I know she was very proud that she would often see students she taught employed in local businesses,” said Penacho. “By the time she retired she had taught three generations of families in many cases. I know she was pleased by knowing that she had contributed to so many students’ careers.”
After a stroke a week ago, Andrews’ children were not sure if she was going to be able to attend the awards ceremony, but she did.
“We worried that it might all be too much for her but the look on her face as she recognized friends and acquaintances who came up to her to wish her well said we did the right thing taking her to the reception,” said Penacho.
If you have an idea for a Senior Citizen profile, contact Assistant Metro Editor Nikie Johnson at 951-763-3461 or [email protected]
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BERYL LAWELL PENACHO ANDREWS
AGE: 94 RESIDENCE: San Jacinto
NOTABLE: She was recently honored for her years of service in the community, touching many through teaching and as an active member of many nonprofit organizations